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Topic: The long fight for rights (Read 4136 times)

In October this year, we were staying at a B&B in County Antrim that had stables and, being keen riders, we asked the lady where she rode and were quite surprised to hear that she is unable to ride along the local bridleway as the farmer has chained and padlocked the gates as he 'doesn't like horses', forcing here instead to ride out along a very narrow country lane to get anywhere safe to ride...

The deliberate blocking of a highway (Right of Way) is a criminal offence under Section 137 of the Highways Act 1980. Offenders can face a fine and criminal record.

There is no reason to confine interference to physical interference. (To a Public Right of Way) An object can get in the way of the right of passage or other amenity rights because of its psychological impact.’ Herrick v Kidner and Somerset County Council, 2014.

Section 130A-D of the Highways Act 1980(2)) empowers a member of the public to serve a notice on the highway authority to get an illegal obstruction removed from a highway.

In October this year, we were staying at a B&B in County Antrim that had stables and, being keen riders, we asked the lady where she rode and were quite surprised to hear that she is unable to ride along the local bridleway as the farmer has chained and padlocked the gates as he 'doesn't like horses', forcing here instead to ride out along a very narrow country lane to get anywhere safe to ride...

I posted elsewhere regarding rights of way in Eire. My wife was most disappointed when she went riding (with a stables) and instead of galloping across the wide open Burren found herself mostly on roads.

The deliberate blocking of a highway (Right of Way) is a criminal offence under Section 137 of the Highways Act 1980. Offenders can face a fine and criminal record.

There is no reason to confine interference to physical interference. (To a Public Right of Way) An object can get in the way of the right of passage or other amenity rights because of its psychological impact.’ Herrick v Kidner and Somerset County Council, 2014.

Section 130A-D of the Highways Act 1980(2)) empowers a member of the public to serve a notice on the highway authority to get an illegal obstruction removed from a highway.

The deliberate blocking of a highway (Right of Way) is a criminal offence under Section 137 of the Highways Act 1980. Offenders can face a fine and criminal record.

There is no reason to confine interference to physical interference. (To a Public Right of Way) An object can get in the way of the right of passage or other amenity rights because of its psychological impact.’ Herrick v Kidner and Somerset County Council, 2014.

Section 130A-D of the Highways Act 1980(2)) empowers a member of the public to serve a notice on the highway authority to get an illegal obstruction removed from a highway.

Nearly always the highways agency. I wonder if the ramblers know this ROW has been illegally blocked

The Highway Authority (the council) will have to act when someone complains about a blocked public footpath (highway) and if the council don't act then they can complain to the ombudsman. The Ramblers Association might take it on but anybody can do what they do which is complain to the council.

If you are 100% certain it is a public footpath you have the right to force your way through and remove any obstacles as you go. But you have to be careful doing that. It might sound extreme but it is sometimes the best solution and if you are sure of your ground and do things correctly and reasonably you might (and should) find you have the support of the Highway Authority. You are allowed to do things like cut wire fences but it's complicated and covered by several bits of case law. In this case if the landowner was to put a locked gate in the way you would be within the law if you cut a lock off. It's all covered in the 'blue book' published by the Ramblers which is the guide used by Highway Authorites. It's entitled 'Rights of Way: a Guide to Law and Practice'.

A bridleway is not a highway, it is a byway. Highways act does not apply.

Compliance is handled by council rights of way departments rather than highways department. Rights of way are normally poor relation with no money.

In law 'Highway Authority' is the term used for the relevant local government body. The word 'highway' is used for all rights of way of all types from a motorway through to a footpath and they are all covered by the Highways Act.

A bridleway is not a highway, it is a byway. Highways act does not apply.

Compliance is handled by council rights of way departments rather than highways department. Rights of way are normally poor relation with no money.

In law 'Highway Authority' is the term used for the relevant local government body. The word 'highway' is used for all rights of way of all types from a motorway through to a footpath and they are all covered by the Highways Act.

Absolutely correct. Only exceptions are motorways and trunk roads which in England are Highways England, a government company. Wales is different in that north and south are managed by different bodies, "North and Mid Wales Trunk Road Agency" and in the south its "South Wales Highways Agent". Cant think why.

Just read that the Scottish Act was based on the Scandinavian model of allemansrattan or 'every man's right'. This suggests that Scandinavian countries have the best access rights in Europe. Never been there long enough to see for myself.

I have spent a lot of time in N.Ireland though where access is terrible. Just to find somewhere to walk the dog we usually have to drive to National Trust properties. I expect the 'troubles' has been the major hurdle to progressing public access.

Having spent time in Norway and Sweden I can confirm that access is very easy there and you have a right to walk virtually anywhere other than in the private garden of a dwelling house. In the north of both countries you can also camp practically anywhere, again except in someone's garden.

It may have something to do with the north of both countries being very sparsely populated so I would guess that land ownership is also very different from the UK. Large chunks of the UK are owned by foreigners, mysterious offshore businesses, etc. - see earlier in this thread. I'm not sure that this is so in the north of Norway, Sweden or even Finland because the Sami people have a right to roam all over the north of all three countries with their reindeer herds and can disregard frontiers completely. In fact it's perfectly possible in the north to follow long distance routes which cross frontiers which exist on the map but aren't marked on the ground.

Just read that the Scottish Act was based on the Scandinavian model of allemansrattan or 'every man's right'. This suggests that Scandinavian countries have the best access rights in Europe. Never been there long enough to see for myself.

I have spent a lot of time in N.Ireland though where access is terrible. Just to find somewhere to walk the dog we usually have to drive to National Trust properties. I expect the 'troubles' has been the major hurdle to progressing public access.

Eire is no different. Although different rules apply depending who you are. We were in Connemara a while back and decided on a walk up a prominent hill when we were confronted by a large painted sign on a rock 'NO DOGS'. So we went to a local beach with our two Jack Russells. I was rather suprised and miffed to see, on a later TV programme, Monty Halls marching up the same hill with an unleashed black labrador. He is on Facebook but didn't respond to my polite query as to how he overcame the ban.